Thursday, August 02, 2007

Artur Chilingarov today became the new Russian hero when he descended to 14,000 feet below the North Pole to drop a Russian flag. He has helped Russia stake a claim on a 463,000 mile area of the Arctic. This is roughly equivalent to half the size of Western Europe.

This area is under contention of five nations including Russia, USA (through Alaska), Canada, Norway and Denmark (through Greenland). Although Russia has an age old claim on this last colonizable land, all five nations ratified a UN convention on Laws of the Sea. This convention limits the contendors to 200 miles of territorial waters.

Benefits of the Claim

There are two main benefits:

The much fabled North East passage has taken many lives in the past as every attempt to make it through thick ice have failed. But global warming has taken its toll and the passage could open up in as less as the next eight years. Controlling this vital passage is definitely a goal for the contendors.

The other benefit is the estimated 10 billion barrels of oil. If Russia can now stake the claim through the UN, this will add to Russia's already heavy energy reserves. The jury on the technology to drill the oil from such an area is still out.

Regardless, Chilingarov and his submarines, Mir 1 and Mir 2 are now bound to be as famous as that other pioneer Russian, Yuri Gagarin.

Do not agree with my opinions? Let me know. Leave a comment and I will reply right back.